Can Botox help with chronic migraines?
For people with chronic migraine — headache on 15 or more days a month — botulinum toxin injected across set points in the forehead, temples, scalp and neck can reduce how often migraines happen. It is a recognised preventative option (NICE recommends botulinum toxin type A for chronic migraine in suitable adults) and at Visage it is always assessed first in a consultation to confirm you are a candidate.
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What it is.
Chronic migraine is migraine occurring on at least 15 days a month, with at least eight of those being migraine days, for more than three months. It is different from occasional or tension headache, and it can be genuinely disabling. Botulinum toxin is not a treatment for ordinary headaches — it is specifically a preventative option for people living with chronic migraine.
The treatment.
Treatment follows the established preventative protocol: a series of small botulinum toxin injections placed across defined points around the head and neck. It works by dampening the nerve signals involved in migraine. Benefit builds over the first weeks and is reviewed across cycles. Because this is a medical preventative — not a cosmetic treatment — we take a careful history at consultation, and we will be honest if we think it is not the right path for you or that your GP or a neurologist should be involved first.
Full Hyperhidrosis & Migraines information→Is it right for me?
- Adults diagnosed with chronic migraine (15+ headache days a month).
- People who have tried, and not had enough benefit from, standard preventative medication.
- Those wanting a nurse-led, carefully assessed option close to home in Essex.
Chronic migraine FAQs.
Is botulinum toxin for migraine the same as Botox for wrinkles?+
It is the same active medicine, but used in a completely different way. For chronic migraine it is injected across a defined set of points around the head and neck following an established preventative protocol, at different doses and locations from anti-wrinkle treatment. The goal is to reduce migraine frequency, not to change how you look.
Does it work for ordinary or occasional headaches?+
No. Botulinum toxin is only recognised as a preventative for chronic migraine — broadly, migraine on 15 or more days a month. It is not a treatment for tension headaches or occasional migraine. We will talk through whether your pattern fits at consultation.
How quickly will I notice a difference?+
Migraine prevention builds gradually. Many people notice a reduction in frequency over the first few weeks, and the benefit is usually assessed across treatment cycles rather than after a single session. We review honestly at each stage and only continue where there is a clear benefit.
Do I need a referral?+
You do not need a formal referral to be assessed, but chronic migraine is a medical diagnosis. If you have not been diagnosed, or your headaches have changed recently, we may suggest your GP or a neurologist is involved first. Your safety comes before treatment.
Independent, regulated sources.
- NHS — excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis): causes and treatmentNHS
- NICE TA260 — botulinum toxin type A for preventing chronic migraineNational Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)
- MHRA — botulinum toxin is a prescription-only medicine (POM)Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
- Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners — choosing a safe practitionerJoint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP)
- Nursing and Midwifery Council — check a nurse on the registerNursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
External links are provided for information only and do not imply endorsement. This page is general information, not a substitute for individual medical advice. Always discuss your own circumstances at consultation.
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